Abandoning Tubies, seeking new leadership to take the helm of decades old tradition

Unless someone comes forward to take over the Tubie Festival, South Dundas will lose its longest running annual festival.

The Tubie Festival organizing committee of the Morrisburg and District Lions Club confirmed last week that they can no longer commit to the time and effort that is required to run the 43 year old event.

The Tubie Festival Committee is a 10 member club within a club of younger Morrisburg and District Lions.

After eight years of hosting Tubies, the committee is starting to experience volunteer fatigue, and thought now would be the time to step away, leaving the door open for someone new to take it over.

Domanko said the ‘red tape’ involved with organizing such an event can be a frustrating part of the process, but while contributing to fatigue, it is not the main factor in the decision.

“The municipality has taken steps to try and help with things like festival insurance, but you do spend a significant amount of time dealing with red tape at various levels of administration,” he said.

Domanko believes that Tubie interest is on the rise, compared to what it was about five years ago.

He said the decision was not about money. “When the Lions took over the event it was to support an important community festival. It was never about being a fundraiser for the club.” While some years, the profit was minimal, the event has never lost money for the Lions.

“While the number of crafts have been steady over the years, I think it’s encouraging that we are seeing a number of younger participants,” said Domanko.

The committee has been working over the years to make Tubies a more family oriented event, bringing in activities for the kids, and encouraging more youth to get involved.

“I think we’re seeing that pay off,” said Domanko. “Now, a lot of those kids look forward to Tubie weekend too. In my opinion, we’ve crossed a threshold. More people are coming forward an showing an interest.”

“I think it’s better to make a change in organization while things are on an upswing, rather than on the decline,” said Domanko.

“As lifelong residents of the community, and former Tubie Weekend participants, it was a privilege to be involved with the organization and execution of ‘Tubie Weekend’ for the last eight years,” reads a letter to the community drafted by the committee.

“Tubies have been part of our community’s fabric for over 40 years, and we took pride in being one of the many and varied groups that has worked to ensure it remains the longest continuous running local festival.”

“It is our hope another group steps forward and continues the tradition with the enthusiasm the weekend deserves.”

Domanko says he is optimistic about the future of the Tubies. “I think enough people have fond memories of Tubies, that enough of them will get involved to ensure that Tubies continue.”

“I think they also recognize the weekend as having significance both as a tourist draw and a community event,” he added.

Looking back at the years where he and the Lions CIC have steered the event, Domanko says, “I feel good about that too.”

Although it has been a lot of work, Domanko has always enjoyed his time as organizer, and taken great pride in seeing every aspect come together.

“People always tell me, ‘I come home every Tubie Weekend, because I know that is when everyone else will be coming home too.’ I think that is one of the greatest attributes of Tubie Weekend,” said Domanko.

Anyone interested in getting involved with keeping the Tubies afloat can contact Domanko by email (mdomanko@gmail.com). The committee is happy to share information and help facilitate a change in leadership.

The Tubie tradition started in 1970, as a fun event where a couple of guys teamed up, built a craft of an inner tube and paddled from Arlor Haven Campground at Mariatown to the Morrisburg Beach.

The race winners were crowned ‘Kings of the River’.

The fun of the event caught on. Powder puff and junior classes even drew competitors to the race.

A Tubie parade has always been part of the Tubie tradition.

Over the decades, certain names dominated the races year after year, – Veley, Cassell, Farlinger, McGee.

The Lions Club took over Tubie weekend in 2006, from the Flamingos hockey team, and formed the Tubie Festival Committee.

In 2009, they changed the race format. Instead of racing from Mariatown to the Morrisburg beach, they organized a series of elimination round heat races from the Morrisburg dock to the beach, with the winners of the final being named Kings of the River.

In 2010, the dance was moved from the Morrisburg arena to the waterfront under a big tent.

“Keep in mind, Tubies have seen a number of different incarnations over the years,” said Domanko. “You don’t have to do it the way we did it.”

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“I do have the opportunity tonight,” began South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds, “to present cheques to services I feel are worthy.”

On February 21st, Byvelds presented cheques to Carefor Hospice Cornwall, Dundas County Hospice, and St. Lawrence College’s Cornwall Campus.

Carefor Hospice received $1,000. Sandy Collette, a representative from the hospice, confirmed that “we’ve had a number of people from South Dundas come through our hospice.”

She revealed that Carefor Hospice Cornwall has “to raise about half a million dollars a year to keep it running.”

Bea Van Gilst, a representative from Dundas County Hospice, was also on hand to receive a cheque for $1,000. Byvelds said he was inspired to help the hospices after his wife Debbie took a course in hospice. Byvelds said, “we need people for support, and these special people need us for support.”

St. Lawrence College received $300 towards its building program and another $4,000 for scholarships.

“I feel we need to invest in our young people,” said Byvelds.

Fairweather assured council that the donations would “certainly be put to good use” and “directed specifically at people from our area.”

Byvelds said, “the funds were remaining from money collected from donations for use during my term as Warden for events such as the Warden’s Room at ROMA.”

“Since the funds were donated,” Byvelds felt it important to donate the money to services within SD&G that could benefit everyone.

The Township of South Dundas and the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre have joined forces in an effort to provide “interactive training experience addressing the fundamentals of on-line business” for local businesses.

The first three seminars planned focus on e-business topics. Each seminar begins at 7:30 a.m. with a breakfast and networking opportunity followed by an informative presentation on the topic of choice, ending at 10:30 a.m.

While the first seminar, How You Can Profit from E-Biz, has come and gone, there are two more left in the series: February 28th, Social Media Marketing; and, March 27th, Increasing Traffic to Your Website.

The first session, according to South Dundas Economic Development Officer, Nicole Sullivan, “was very informative. It provided a blend of practical information for businesses looking to create a website as well as those looking to improve their current site.”

“Of particular interest to attendees was the pattern in which users read websites and how that determines the way a website should be laid out.”

She explained that the seminars are part of a “larger goal of being able to offer initiatives that support the business community as a whole and build partnerships and networking opportunities.”

“The next seminar will be led by the same presenter as the first. I have no doubt it will be of equal quality and encourage all businesses interested in increasing their presence on the internet to attend.”

At the February seminar, Sullivan is hoping to distribute a survey to determine what other topics might be of interest to the business community in South Dundas.

“If successful,” she said, “hopefully we’ll be able to continue on” with the seminars.

On March 20th, South Dundas council declared 397.31 acres of land as surplus. The decision has opened the door for the land on County Road 8 to be sold.

There are, however, those in South Dundas who strongly oppose the sale of the public land they call the ‘400.’

A passionate ‘letter to the editor’ was published in the April 11th issue of The Leader pleading the case for keeping the ‘400’ in public hands. Tyler Mills, author of the letter, asked for support from fellow township residents to save the land.

In that same edition of The Leader, it was reported that council, at the April 3rd meeting, approved a recommendation to hire Bowfin Environmental Consulting to complete a species at risk study, moving the land closer to sale.

On April 13th, Jim Mills, father to Tyler, contacted The Leader. As of that moment, he reported that he had attained 800 taxpayer signatures on a petition to stop the sale of the land.

“I received a call from the mayor (Steven Byvelds) yesterday,” he informed. “He said that my petition was useless without a letter with each with their concerns on why the land should be kept.”

Upset by the mayor’s message, Mills said, “we’re flooding the council meeting on Tuesday (April 17th). I expect to have 100 people there.”

“We have constitutional rights,” he continued. “I think a lot of decisions this current council’s making are one-sided and not in the best interest of the general public.”

The land, he said, “belongs to the taxpayers of South Dundas. It doesn’t cost anything to maintain.”

His message followed that of his son Tyler’s ‘letter to the editor’: “This land is virtually maintenance free to this townhsip. The road that runs through it is unmaintained, it is overgrown, and tore up from years of riding and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Also, in his letter, Tyler informed that the ‘400’ “is a playground of a different kind, a playground without monkey bars, swings, or slides, but a playground none the less.”

“This property has provided recreation of a different variety to many outdoorsmen. ATV, dirt bike, skidoo riders, cross-country skiers, nature enthusiasts, and families from in and out of this township who prefer the serenity, seclusion, and natural beauty of this property to the other public parks and recreation areas in the township,” he continued.

“The impact on the folks who use this public property could be potentially devastating, for it is truly the last large piece of bush that exists in this township, as the satellite imagery will confirm.”

According to Jim Mills, he is asking that residents of South Dundas come together on this issue and “support me because I’m supporting you.”

The April 17th South Dundas council meeting took place following The Leader’s press deadline. Look for coverage of the meeting’s events in next week’s paper, April 25th.